Systems and methods for transferring data and revenue

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are described for transferring data, goods, information, and items of value between users, partners, and service providers. The data can be collected by a plurality of sensors installed in a space. Payments, rebates, and incentives can be provided in response to analysis of the collected data. The collected data can be analyzed to provide a monitoring system in a home or other environment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/047,440, entitled “Systems and Methods for Transferring Data and Revenue,” by Nina S. Joshi, Adam M. Gettings, Eddy Y. Chan, Andrew G. Stevens, Lucas D. Ivers and Bjorn H. Hovland, Attorney Docket Number LEEOPZ01500, filed on Sep. 8, 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Spaces can be monitored by sensors. Sensors can collect data that can describe a state of the environment. The data collected by the sensors can be analyzed and transferred to commercial and public entities that may use the data to perform a task or provide a good or service.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer system for facilitating the collection of data with respect to a state of an environment of a user. The computer system comprises a communication interface that is in communication with (i) one or more data collection devices that each collects data with respect to a state of an environment of a user, and (ii) one or more service providers that each provides the user with a service or benefit in response to data collected by at least a subset of the one or more data collection devices, wherein a given data collection device of the one or more data collection devices is associated with a manufacturer that has manufactured the given data collection device. The computer system further comprises a computer processor that is communication with the communication interface and programmed to (i) collect the data from the one or more data collection devices, (ii) facilitate the transmission of the data or derivative thereof to the one or more service providers, (iii) calculating an item of value in exchange for facilitating the transmission of the data or derivative thereof, and (iv) facilitate the transmission of at least a portion of the item of value to the manufacturer, the user, the service provider or a partner of the service provider.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a computer system for facilitating the collection of data with respect to a state of an environment of each of a plurality of users. The computer system comprises a communication interface that is in communication with (i) a plurality of data collection devices that collect data with respect to a state of an environment of each of a plurality of users, and (ii) one or more service providers that each provides a given user among said plurality of users with a service or benefit in response to said data collected by said plurality of data collection devices; and a computer processor that is in communication with said communication interface and programmed to (i) collect said data from said plurality of data collection devices and (ii) facilitate the transmission of said data or derivative thereof to said one or more service providers.

In another aspect the present disclosure provides, a method for facilitating the collection of data. The method comprises using a communication interface, collecting data from one or more data collection devices with respect to a state of an environment of a user, wherein a given data collection device of said one or more data collection devices is associated with a manufacturer that has manufactured the given data collection device. The method further comprises facilitating the transmission of the data or derivative thereof to one or more service providers, using a computer processor that is in communication with said communication interface, calculating an item of value in exchange for facilitating the transmission of the data or derivative thereof, and facilitating the transmission of at least a portion of the item of value to said manufacturer, the user, the service provider or a partner of the service provider.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides, a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising machine-executable code that, upon execution by one or more computer processors implements a method for facilitating the collection of data. The method comprises using a communication interface, collecting data from one or more data collection devices with respect to a state of an environment of a user, wherein a given data collection device of the one or more data collection devices is associated with a manufacturer that has manufactured the given data collection device. The method further comprises facilitating the transmission of the data or derivative thereof to one or more service providers, calculating an item of value in exchange for facilitating the transmission of the data or derivative thereof, and facilitating the transmission of at least a portion of the item of value to the manufacturer, the user, the service provider or a partner of the service provider.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides machine executable code that, upon execution by one or more computer processors, implements any of the methods above or elsewhere herein.

Another aspect of the present disclosure a computer system (e.g., computer server) comprising one or more computer processors and memory coupled thereto. The memory comprises machine executable code that, upon execution by the one or more computer processors, implements any of the methods above or elsewhere herein.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described. As will be realized, the present disclosure is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings (also “figure” and “FIG.” herein), of which:

FIG. 1 is an overview of the components in the system; and

FIG. 2 is a map of the connectivity between components in the system;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the communication interfaces and connectivity of the computer system with the other components in the system;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing permeability of information between components in the system;

FIG. 5 is a detailed example of a communication network between components in the system;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing subsets of monitoring networks;

FIG. 7 shows a computer system that is programmed or otherwise configured to implement systems and methods of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a method for facilitating the collection of data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While various embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed.

The term “service provider,” as used herein, generally refers to an individual, company, or entity that is configured to use, analyze, or monitor data derived from a data collector. A service provider can initiate or provide a good or service in response to raw or analyzed data from the data collector. In an example, a service provider can provide an emergency response, reduced insurance quote, a part configured for use in a mechanical or electronic device, or a repair service.

The term “item of value,” as used here, generally refers to an item that can be exchanged in return for a good or service. An item of value can be a physical or electronic item of value, such as electronic currency. An item of value can be exchanged in marketplace. An item of value can be, for example, currency, a commodity, a promise of future goods or services, a rebate, or a service value token.

The term “manufacturer,” as used herein, generally refers to an individual, company, or entity that produces or markets a good or service. A manufacturer can be an entity that produces a device that can be purchased or otherwise acquired by a user. A manufacturer can produce the device or a manufacturer can provide a device that was produced by a third party. A manufacturer can generate revenue by selling a good or service in a market place.

The term “data,” as used herein,” generally refers to information or measurements collected by one or more devices, such as one or more sensors. Data can be a dependent variable as a function of one or more independent variables, for example time and/or space. Data can be collected continuously or at discrete intervals. Data can refer to information collected by a single sensor or a compilation of data collected by two or more sensors. In some cases data can refer to a raw measurement collected by a sensor, in other cases data can refer to a measurement that has been processed in some way, such as transformed from one form to another. Data processing can include normalizing, scaling, partitioning, compiling, or converting data collected by one or more sensors.

The term “partner,” as used herein, generally refers to an individual, company, or entity that builds, contracts, or licenses a device. The device can be a data collection device. The device can be configured and adapted to communicate with an off board or remote computer system. The device can be configured to collect and transmit data to an off board or remote computer system. A partner can produce a device that transmits data to an off board or remote computer system that is not managed by the partner. Alternatively, the partner can produce a device that transmits data to a computer system that is managed by the partner, and the computer system managed by the partner can then transmit at least some, most, or all or substantially all of the collected data to a computer system that is not managed by the partner.

The term “data collection device,” as used herein, generally refers to a physical device or system programmed or otherwise configured to collect data or provide information with respect to a state of another device. The data collection device can comprise one or more sensors configured to measure and collect one or more data types. The data collection device can be in communication with at least one computer system off board or remotely located with respect to the device, to which the device can transmit at least a fraction of the collected data. The data collection device can communicate with at least one other data collection device. The data collection device can be managed by a user through a user interface on or off board the data collection device. Examples of data collection devices include night lights, smoke detectors, thermostats, refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, humidity sensors, proximity sensors, motion detectors, radiation detectors, audio systems, vibration sensors, light sensors, flow monitors, humidifiers, de-humidifiers, alarm systems, lighting systems, light bulbs, light controllers, wireless or wired network routers, network modems, locks, smoke detectors, NOx (e.g., NO and/or NO₂) detectors, CO detectors, CO₂ detectors, air purifiers, humidifier/air purifier combination (combo), air purifier, smoke/CO detector combo, radon detector, plug-in motion and sound detectors, battery-powered motion and sound detectors, fans, thermostats, switches, air conditioning (AC) units or systems, heaters, window openers, power strips, power outlets, light bulbs, water pipe monitors, indoor water usage monitors, outdoor water usage monitors, blinds, and security cameras.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for collecting data and transferring collected data in an environment between a user and a service provider and providing an item of value in exchange for the collected data. The system provides routes for information transfer between an inhomogeneous set of service providers, device manufacturers, and users. The system further provides a payment and revenue scheme to transfer items of value between an inhomogeneous set of service providers, device manufacturers, and users in exchange for goods, services, benefits, and information.

Systems For Facilitating Data Collection

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer system for facilitating the collection of data with respect to a state of an environment of a user. The state can be selected from temperature, humidity, pressure, level of volatile organic compounds, level of one or more gases, level of one or more particulates (e.g., as in smog), power usage, gas usage, water usage, Internet usage, and presence or absence of smoke. The system can include a communication interface that is in communication with (i) one or more data collection devices that each collects data with respect to a state of an environment of a user, and (ii) one or more service providers that each provides the user with a service or benefit in response to data collected by at least a subset of the one or more data collection devices, wherein a given data collection device of the one or more data collection devices is associated with a manufacturer that has manufactured the given data collection device. The system can further include a computer processor that is communication with the communication interface and programmed to (i) collect the data from the one or more data collection devices, (ii) facilitate the transmission of the data or derivative thereof to the one or more service providers, (iii) calculating an item of value in exchange for facilitating the transmission of the data or a derivative thereof, and (iv) facilitate the transmission of at least a portion of the item of value to the manufacturer, the user, the service provider or a partner of the service provider.

In some cases, the communication interface is in communication with a plurality of data collection devices that collect different data with respect to the state. The communication interface can be in communication with at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 100 data collection devices. The data collection devices can be in the same environment or different environments.

In some cases, the communication interface is in communication with a plurality of data collection devices that collect data with respect to a state of a respective environment of a given user among a plurality of users. For example, the communication interface is in communication with at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 100 data collection devices that each collects data with respect to a state of an environment of the given user, such as from an enclosure (e.g., home or office) of the user.

In some situations, the communication interface is in communication with a plurality of service providers. For example, the communication interface is in communication with a police station, a fire department, a plumbing company, and an insurance company.

The environment can be at least one building. The environment can be adjacent to at least one building. In an example, the environment is directly adjacent to the at least one building. In another example, the environment and the at least one building are separate by one or more intervening areas or structures.

The environment can be an enclosure in a building. The environment can be an enclosure within one or more other enclosures. For example, the environment can be a room or a room in another room. The environment can be a group of buildings on a corporate campus or a college campus or other institution.

In some situations, the computer processor is programmed to transform the data prior to facilitating the transmission of the data or derivative thereof to the one or more service providers. Such transformation can include transforming the data from one format to another format that may be readable by the one or more service providers. Such transformation can include applying a computer executed algorithm to the data.

In some situations, the item of value is money. As an alternative or in addition to, the item of value is a service value token or a promise to provide a future service or other item of value. The computer processor can be programmed to collect at least a portion, most or all of the item of value from the user, the service provider or the partner. In some examples, the computer processor can then direct at least a portion of the item of value to the user, the service provider, or the partner. For example, the computer processor can direct an item of value from a service provider to a user where a service provider is an insurance company and a user is a home owner that has decreased the insurance companies risk, in this example the item of value can be an insurance rebate. In some cases an item of value can be directed from a user to a service provider in exchange for a good or service. In some cases an item of value can be exchanged between a service provider and a partner in exchange for data.

In another aspect the present disclosure provides a computer system for facilitating the collection of data with respect to a state of an environment of each of a plurality of users. The state can be selected from temperature, humidity, pressure, level of volatile organic compounds, level of one or more gases, level of one or more particulates, power usage, gas usage, water usage, Internet usage, break-in or forced entry detection, notification of a humidifier being empty, a notification of a de-humidifier being full, radiation levels, radon levels, motion detection, vibration signature detection, audio detection, optical detection, and presence or absence of smoke. The computer system comprises a communication interface that is in communication with (i) a plurality of data collection devices that collect data with respect to a state of an environment of each of a plurality of users, and (ii) one or more service providers that each provides a given user among the plurality of users with a service or benefit in response to said data collected by said plurality of data collection devices. The computer system further comprises a computer processor that is in communication with the communication interface and programmed to (i) collect said data from the plurality of data collection devices and (ii) facilitate the transmission of the data or derivative thereof to one or more service providers.

In some cases, the communication interface is in communication with a plurality of data collection devices that collect different data with respect to the state. The communication interface can be in communication with at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 100 data collection devices. The data collection devices can be in the same environment or different environments.

In some cases, the communication interface is in communication with a plurality of data collection devices that collect data with respect to a state of a respective environment of a given user among a plurality of users. For example, the communication interface is in communication with at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 100 data collection devices that each collects data with respect to a state of an environment of the given user, such as from an enclosure (e.g., home or office) of the user.

In some situations, the communication interface is in communication with a plurality of service providers. For example, the communication interface is in communication with a police station, a fire department, and an insurance company.

The environment can be at least one building. The environment can be adjacent to at least one building. In an example, the environment is directly adjacent to the at least one building. In another example, the environment and the at least one building are separated by one or more intervening areas or structures.

The environment can be an enclosure in a building. The environment can be an enclosure within one or more other enclosures. For example, the environment can be a room or a room in another room.

In some situations, the computer processor is programmed to transform the data prior to facilitating the transmission of the data or derivative thereof to the one or more service providers. Such transformation can include transforming the data from one format to another format that may be readable by the one or more service providers. Such transformation can include applying a computer executed algorithm to the data.

The computer processor can be programmed to collect an item of value from a user, service provider, or a partner of the service provider in exchange for facilitating a transmission of data, or a derivative of the data to a service provider. In some situations, the item of value is money. As an alternative or in addition to, the item of value is a service value token or a promise to provide a future service or other item of value. The computer processor can be programmed to collect at least a portion and/or most of all of the item of value from the user, the service provider or the partner. In some examples, the computer processor can then direct at least a portion of the item of value to the user, the service provider, or the partner. For example, the computer processor can direct an item of value from a service provider to a user where a service provider is an insurance company and a user is a home owner that has decreased the insurance companies risk, in this example the item of value can be an insurance rebate. In some cases an item of value can be directed from a user to a service provider in exchange for a good or service. In some cases an item of value can be exchanged between a service provider and a partner in exchange for data.

FIG. 1 shows an example of components in a system. The system can have collectors 101. A collector can be any device installed in an environment which is capable of collecting data. A collector can be a sensor, detector, electronic device, air purifier, thermostat, control unit, or alarm system. In an example, a collector can be a smoke detector, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, pressure sensor, voltage meter, particle detector, carbon monoxide detector, gas sensor, motion sensor, audio sensor, home alarm system, night light, or computer device. In some examples, a collector can be a radiation detector, light sensor, vibration sensor, flow monitor, humidifier, de-humidifier, alarm system, lighting system, light controller, wireless or wired network router, lock, CO detector, NOx detector, air purifier, humidifier/air purifier combo, air purifier, smoke/CO detector combo, radon detector, plug-in motion and sound detector, battery-powered motion and sound detector, fan, thermostat, switch, air conditioning (AC) unit, heater, door or window opener, power strip, power outlet, light bulb, water pipe monitor, indoor water usage monitor, outdoor water usage monitor, blind, and security camera. A collector system 102 can be a plurality of collectors. The collector system can be comprised of only one type of collector (e.g. only smoke detectors) or a plurality of collector types. The collectors in the system can be in communication with each other. The collectors or collector system can be in a space, or environment 103. An environment can be an enclosure. An environment can be a commercial or residential space. An environment can be a public or private space. In an example, an enclosure can be a building or a room in a building. In another example, an environment is a residential house or office building, or a group of homes and/or office buildings. An environment can be adjacent to a building. For example, an environment can be with 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 10 feet, or 50 feet of a building. In an example, an environment can be an open space adjacent to a building. An environment can be a group of buildings. More than one space can comprise a space system 104. A space system can be a group of homogeneous environments. In an example, a space system can be a group of apartments, a group of houses, a group of rooms, a group of outdoor spaces, or a group of buildings. Alternatively, a space system can be a group of heterogeneous environments. In an example, a space system can be a campus comprising a plurality of buildings, rooms, and outdoor spaces. A user client 105 can own, manage, and/or be present in a space system. A partner 106 can design, manufacture, and/or license a collector. A cloud 107 can be a computing system in communication with any combination of at least one collector 101, collector systems 102, user client 105, partner 106, and service provider 108. A service provider 108 can be an entity that uses the data collected from one or more collectors. The service provider can provide a good or service in response to the collected data. A service provider can be a retailer, government organization, private organization, insurance company, security company, emergency response service, or non-emergency response service. Any or all of the system components shown in FIG. 1 can be configured to accept, release, or transmit an item of value, data, and services.

The system components described in FIG. 1 can communicate through a communication interface. The communication interface can be a component of the computer system. The communication interface can communicate with one or more data collection devices or collectors and/or one or more service providers. Additionally the communication interface can be in communication with a computer processor. The computer processor can be programmed to collect data from one or more collector devices, facilitate the transmission of the data (or data derivative) to one or more service providers. The transmission of data from the collector to the service provider can incur a fee. The computer processor can be configured to determine or calculate the necessary fee and can request an item of value from the user client or from the service provider. The computer processor can facilitate transmission of at least a portion of the item of value to a user client, service provider, and/or partner (e.g. collector device manufacturer). An item of value can be cash, credit, money, a service value token, or a promise for future service.

FIG. 2 shows an example diagram of connectivity in the system. The arrows showing communication between components in FIG. 2 can be bi-directional such that a first component can communicate with a second component and a second component can reciprocally communicate with a first component. Furthermore, communication can refer to a transfer of data, a transfer of an item of value or service, and/or a transfer of a physical good. At the bottom level 201, the system can have on or more collectors. The collectors can be grouped into collector systems 202. A collector system can be defined as all the collectors in a space, an entire group of a certain type of collector (e.g. all smoke detectors installed in a home), or a group of collectors configured to monitor a common phenomenon (e.g. all collectors configured to collect data about fire or burglary). One or more collector systems can be installed in a space 203. One or more spaces can comprise a space system 204. One or more user clients 205 can communicate with and manage the system at a collector, collector system, space, and/or space system level.

A collector can be any device configured to collect information from an environment or space. A collector can be a sensor, for example a temperature, humidity, pressure, voltage, gas, or particle sensor. A collector can be a utility meter, for example, a water meter, electricity or power meter, a gas meter, a cable meter, or internet meter. A collector can be configured to connect to an off board computer system, for example a server, controlled and managed by the manufacturer of the detector. Alternatively, the collector can be configured to connect to an off board computer system not owned, managed or controlled by the collector manufacturer. In an example, the collector can be configured to communicate with the computer system described herein 107. The collector can be configured to communicate directly with one or more other collectors of the same or different type.

A user client 205 can communicate with the system through an interface. The interface can be a software interface installed on an electronic device. In an example, an electronic device can be a desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet, smart phone, smart watch, or another electronic device configured to run the software interface. Communication between electronic devices (such as the collectors, the user electronic devices, service providers, and partners with the computer system through a communication interface can utilize wired, optical and/or wireless communication. For example, the wireless communication can involve communicating packets or frames that are transmitted and received by radios or other electromagnetic radiation in the electronic devices in accordance with a communication protocol, such as: Bluetooth (e.g., from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group of Kirkland, Wash.), an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15 standard (such as ZigBee® from the ZigBee® Alliance of San Ramon, Calif.), an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, Z-Wave, a power-line communication standard, an infra-red communication standard, a universal serial bus (USB) communication standard, a near-field-communication standard or specification (from the NFC Forum of Wakefield, Mass.), another wireless ad-hoc network standard, and/or another type of wireless interface. In some embodiments, the communication protocol can be compatible with a 2nd generation or mobile telecommunication technology, a 3rd generation of mobile telecommunications technology (such as a communication protocol that complies with the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International Telecommunication Union of Geneva, Switzerland), a 4th generation of mobile telecommunications technology (such as a communication protocol that complies with the International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced specification by the International Telecommunication Union of Geneva, Switzerland), and/or another cellular-telephone communication technique. For example, the communication protocol can include Long Term Evolution or LTE. In addition, the communication can occur via a wide variety of frequency bands, including frequencies associated with the so-called ‘white space’ in frequencies bands associated with analog television broadcasting.

A partner 206 can similarly be in communication with and manage the system at a collector, collector system, space, and/or space system level using the described communication mechanisms. A partner 206 can only have access to data from a collector that the partner designed, manufactured, and or licensed. For example, if a partner 206 manufactures a first collector and a space has a second collector and the first collector the partner can only have access to data from the first collector even if the partner 206 is in communication with the space comprising the first and second collectors. Alternatively, a partner can have access to data from a collector that is not manufactured or licensed by the partner. A partner 206 can communicate directly with a user client 205. For example a partner 206 can provide advertising materials, warranty information, available collector software or hardware upgrades, and/or recall information about a collector to a user client 205 through a user communication interface.

Both the user client 205 and the partner 206 can communicate with the computer system 207. The computer system can then be in communication with a service provider. The computer system 207 can be directly in communication with the system at a collector, collector system, space, and/or space system level. The computer system 207 can process or transform data from the collectors prior to providing data to a service provider. The computer system 207 can combine data from different types of collectors into a single analysis provided to a service provider. The computer system 207 can provide data from one or more space or one or more space systems to a service provider.

The computer system 207 can facilitate a transfer of an item of value between components in the system. The computer system 207 can be configured to collect at least a portion of an item of value from a user client 205, partner 206, and/or service provider 208. Similarly the computer system can be configured to facilitate delivery of at least a portion of an item of value to a user client, partner, and/or service provider. The item of value can be exchanged for a good, service, or data analysis. In an example, a good can be a battery for a collector, a hardware component for a collector, a software component for a collector (e.g. firmware upgrade or antivirus software), a collector, and/or a household appliance. A service can be, for example, security monitoring, air quality monitoring, weather monitoring, air quality monitoring, temperature monitoring, humidity monitoring, and/or system health monitoring (e.g. monitoring of the working state of one or more collectors). Data analysis can include raw data from one or more collectors, processed data from one or more collectors, and/or data from one or more collectors with a suggested analysis (e.g. fire detected, security break detected, or gas leak detected).

A user can pay a fee in the form of a subscription to the computer system. The fee can be the item of value transferred to a service provider in exchange for a good or service. The computer system can transfer only a portion of the subscription fee to the service provider in exchange for a good or service. The subscription can be a flat rate paid by a user at a predetermined periodicity, for example, the periodicity can be monthly, bi-yearly, or yearly. The flat rate subscription can cover an unlimited number of service and/or good transfers to a user. Alternatively, the subscription can be “per-event”. In the case of a “per-event” subscription a user can pay in advance for a preset number of good or service transfers.

In addition to transferring an item of value from a user client to a service provider, the computer system can similarly transfer and item of value from a service provider to a user client. In an example, a service provider can provide an item of value to a user client in exchange for raw data or data derivatives from one or more collectors. An item of value can be transferred to a user in exchange for collector data indicating a positive environment. An item of value can be a rebate, extended warranty, or tax deduction. In an example, a service provider can be an insurance company and the insurance company can receive data from the collectors through the computing system. In cases in which the data from the collectors indicates that the insurance companies risk has been decreased the insurance company can provide the user client with a rebate through the computer system. In a specific example, the insurance company can be a home or vehicle (e.g., car, truck or boat) insurance company. The insurance company can receive data from motion detection sensors, forced entry sensors, radiation sensors, humidity sensors (detecting moisture or leaks), smoke and CO detectors, and other sensors to detect the integrity of a home. The insurance company can provide a user with a rebate if the collector data indicates that a user is practicing secure habits like locking their doors and changing their smoke detector batteries. In another example, an insurance company can be a home insurance company. The home insurance company can receive data regarding home security from the computer system. Some home insurance companies can monitor how often burglar alarms, motion detectors, and other home monitoring sensors are engaged. Daily use of home monitoring sensors can result in an insurance rebate being issued to a user client through the computer system. In a third example, an insurance company can be an insurance company for one or more high value items, for example, artwork, antiques, wine, rare instruments, and other items that can be sensitive to light, heat, and humidity. The insurance company for one or more high value items can receive data regarding UV exposure, temperature, and/or humidity in a storage area for the one or more high value items. If the conditions indicate that the one or more high value items are being properly stored the insurance company can issue an insurance rebate to a user client through the computing system. Alternatively, in the third example, the insurance company could purchase a security service or provide additional security or storage services in lieu of a rebate or an insurance discount. An insurance company could purchase or provide services in bulk and offer them to customers and provide more savings to the insurance company.

The computing system can collect and distribute data from the collection devices installed in a space to one or more service providers. A user can have control over the type of data released to the service providers (e.g. data from specific collectors and/or raw data versus data derivatives). A user can opt-in to provide data from the collectors to service providers. The opt-in process can occur through a software user interface in communication with the computer system. The user can opt-in to some service providers but not others, in an example a user can opt-in to provide data from the collectors to a security monitoring company but not provide data to an insurance company.

FIG. 3 shows a graphical diagram outlining an overview of an example functionality of the computer system. The diagram shown in FIG. 3 shows the computer system 301 as a horseshoe shape with users 302 on one side, service providers 303 on the other side, and partners 304 in the middle. Different positions along the horizontal length of the computer system 301 represent different connectivity channels that can be achieved by the system. In a first case 305, a user can have a collector manufactured by a company that owns the computer system installed in a space or space system. The collector manufactured by the company that owns the computer system can communicate directly with the computer system 301. The computer system 301 can provide data or a derivative of the data collected by the collector manufactured by the company that owns the computer system directly to a service provider 303. In another case 306, a user can have a collector manufactured by a partner company 304 installed in a space or space system. The computer system 301 can facilitate communication of the collector with the partner company 304. The computer system can additionally facilitate communication between the partner company and one or more service providers 303. In this case 306, a collector provided by a partner company 304 can achieve the functionality of collecting data from a device and communicating data to a service provider 303 without necessarily having this functionality within the partner company 304. In another case 307, a user can have a collector manufactured by a partner company 304 installed in a space or space system. The partner company 304 can communicate with the device through connectivity to the computer system 301. The partner company 304 can receive raw data, processed data, or derivatives of data from the collector through the computer system 301. The partner company 304 can achieve additional functionality from the analytics provided by the computer system 301. Furthermore, the partner company 304 can receive data from the computer system 301 that has come from other collectors not manufactured by the partner company 304. The data from the computer system 301 that has come from other collectors not manufactured by the partner company 304 can enrich the analysis provided to the partner company 304. In an example, if the partner company manufactures a smoke detector, the computer system can provide data from a temperature sensor provided by another partner company and installed in the same space or space system as the smoke detector. The temperature data can be combined with smoke detection data to increase or decrease the probability of a detected fire. In another example, if the partner company manufactures a burglar alarm, the computer system can provide data from a lock sensor (e.g. device that detects lock picking or vibrations) provided by another partner company and installed in the same space or space system as the burglar alarm. The lock sensor data can be combined with burglar alarm data (typically motion detection) to increase or decrease the probability of a detected space intrusion. In another case 308, a partner company 304 can communicate with collectors installed in a space or space system through their own computer system. In an example, a partner company 304 can be a company that provides a cloud connected monitoring device or collector in which the collector is in communication with a computer system that is owned or managed by the partner company 304. In this case 308, a partner company can utilize a connection to the computer system 301 to connect with service providers 303. Connecting to the computer system 301 by the partner company 304 in order to communicate with service providers 303 can be advantageous over the partner company 304 connecting to the service providers 303 directly or through a computer system owned or managed by the partner company 304 (as shown in case 309). An advantage of a partner company 304 utilizing a connection to the computer system 301 to connect with service providers 303 can be reduced overhead costs. Another advantage can be that the computer system 301 can provide the service provider 303 with data from the partner company 304 collector and also data from other collectors not provided by the partner company 304 resulting in richer data analysis.

The computer system can provide permeability of information between partner companies. FIG. 4 shows a diagram of an example of permeability options between partner companies. At the base of the diagram are the collectors 401 which can comprise individual collectors and/or collector systems present in a space or space system. The next level of the diagram 402 can represent the computer system. Conceptually, the computer system can be broken up in to a first platform 403 and second platform 404. The first platform 403 can collect and/or store data from collectors. The first platform 403 can be an interface for users to manage collector devices and data transfer as well as collection of or payment of items of value. The first platform 403 can also be an interface for partners for data collection, configuration, and payment collection and transfers. The second platform 404 can be an interface for service providers 405. Service providers 405 can receive orders and notifications to provide products (e.g. goods and/or services) through the second platform 404. The services providers can also transfer and receive payments through the second platform 404. The second platform 404 can also include fraud detection and payment analytics to detect fraudulent payments and fraudulent data reporting that can occur in the system. The second platform 404 can use known and collected data and data acquired or imported from other sources and data analysis to detect potential fraud. Partner companies can utilize a combination of the first platform 403 and the second platform 404.

The first platform 403 can include optional data permeability. The data permeability can occur between partners that are using the computer system 402 to collect and analyze collector data and/or partners that have their own outside computer system 406 that is owned and managed by the partner company. Data permeability can be defined by a partnership agreement between one or more partner companies and/or a partner company and the computer system 402 company. Data permeability can be further influenced by user preferences or settings. Permeability can be bi-directional meaning that a first partner can share data with a second partner and a second partner can reciprocally share data with the first company. In some cases, the permeability can be unidirectional. The computer system 402 company can manufacture collectors configured to communicate directly with the computer system 402. The data captured by the collectors manufactured by the computer system can have complete bi-directional permeability to be shared with one or more partner companies as depicted by boundary 406 in FIG. 4. In some cases, a partner can choose to have not data permeability, for example partner company 407. In this case, partner company 407 can communicate with the computer system 402 to achieve the functionality of data analytics and/or connection to a service provider through the computer system 402. Partner company 407 cannot achieve a functionality of having access to data from other partner companies. In a third example a partner company 408, can have unidirectional permeability. In this case, the partner company 408 can accept data from other partner companies but the partner company 408 may not choose to release a fraction of or all of the data collected by the devices manufactured by partner company 408.

The computer system can facilitate collection and transfer of data between a collection device and a service provider. The computer system can have a communication interface. The communication interface can be accessible to any combination of users, collectors, service providers, and partners. The communication interface can collect data from one or more collectors. The data can be pertinent to the state of an environment, where the state of the environment can be the temperature, humidity, pressure, level of volatile organic compounds, level of one or more gases, level of one or more particulates, power usage, water usage, internet usage, and presence or absence of smoke. The collector, or data collection device, can be associated with a manufacturer of the collector. The manufacturer, or partner, can access the data from the collector through the communication interface. The computer system can facilitate transmission of the data or a derivative of the data to one or more service providers, the data or derivative can be provided directly to one or more service providers. Alternatively, the data or derivative of the data can be transmitted to one or more service providers through a third party. The third party can be a partner of the service provider. A derivative of the data can be processed raw data from a single collector or a compilation of data from more than one collector. The computer system can have one or more processors in communication with the communication interface. The processor can calculate an item of value in exchange for facilitating the transmission of the data or data derivative. The computer system can facilitate the transmission of at least a portion of the item of value to one or more of the partner (manufacturer), user, service provider, or a partner of the service provider. A remaining portion of the item of value can be collected by the computer system or the company owning or managing the computer system.

The calculation of the item of value can include both the amount of value and the direction of transmission. In some cases the data can indicate that a payment of a user is required in exchange for a good or service from the service provider. In another case, the data can indicate that a rebate or extended warranty should be transferred from the service provider to the user. In a third case an item of value can be provided in exchange for data. Data can be the data collected by the computer system in which case a partner or service provider can provide an item of value to the computer system. In another case, data can be provided from the partner or service provider to the computer system; therefore an item of value can be transferred from the computer system to the partner or service provider.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a detailed view of an example communication network that can occur in the system. FIG. 5 has a plurality of collectors 501 in use in spaces 502 in a space system 503. The spaces 502 can be for example a long hallway and a bedroom, alternatively the spaces can be other indoor or outdoor spaces. The space system 503 can be a house or alternatively, the space system can be another group of spaces. A user 504 in the case shown in FIG. 5 can be a homeowner or a group of homeowners. The user 504 can connect to the computer system 506. Through a connection with a computer system 506 a user can pay for a monitoring service by providing an item of value to the computer system 506. The monitoring service can be a service which uses data from one or more collectors to monitor a space. In an example, a monitoring service can be analysis from a set of collectors configured to monitor home security events such as break-ins or occurrence of a hazard (e.g. fire or unsafe air quality conditions). The computer system 506 can be in communication with one or more collectors 501 or collector systems. The computer system can receive, store, and/or process the data communicated by the one or more collectors and determine if a detection event needs to be communicated throughout the system. A detection event can be a report of the health of one or more collectors or a detection of a need for a service or good from a service partner. In an example, a service partner can be a security service such as a private security service or a government/publicly operated police or fire department 511. The computer system can send a request to a service provider as a response to a detection event. In some cases the request can be to a physical or online retailer 507 for a component needed for a collector, for example, a battery, part, or software upgrade for a collector. In an example, a computer system can detect that a collector has a low battery and may automatically order a new battery. The computer system can be configured to provide an item of value in exchange for the component for the collector. The computer system can provide an item of value using stored credit, debit, or bank account information. Alternatively, the computer system can provide an item of value from a pre-paid account provided by the user. The retailer 507 can receive an order for the component and payment from the computer system and may send the component to the user's space or space system 503. Alternatively, if the space system is owned by an outside entity that is not a person living in the space system, for example a landlord or property management company, the component can be sent to the outside entity 510.

The computer system 506 can provide incentives to users to install collectors configured to communicate with the computer system. The incentive can be a monthly rebate, a per-use rebate, or an initial discount on the collectors or a discount on the installation of the collectors. Similarly, the computer system can provide incentives for partners 508 to manufacture collectors that are configured to communicate with the computer system 506. In some cases, the computer system 506 can provide an item of value to the partner for each collector they manufacture. Additionally or instead of providing an item of value for each manufactured collector, the computer system 506 can provide an item of value to a partner 508 in exchange for data from the partner's collector. A partner can also be incentivized to manufacture a collector configured to communicate with the computer system because communicating with the computer system can include additional data that the collector may not be configured to collect itself. In an example, a smoke detector manufacturer can offer a smoke detector configured to communicate with the computer system 506. The smoke detector may not be configured to measure ambient temperature; however, another collector installed in a space and in communication with the computer system 506 may measure temperature. The collector configured to measure ambient temperature may or may not be manufactured by the smoke detector manufacturer. Through the connection with the computer system 506 the smoke detector may have access to the temperature data to better detect fire events. Additionally, the computer system 506 can allow a partner 508 to indirectly provide connection to a monitoring and/or response service. A collector 501 in communication with the computer system 506 can provide sensor data to monitor a space 502 or space system 503. Based on the data the computer system 506 may detect an incident and contact a response service 509. In an example, a response service can be an emergency response service.

A user can have the option of subscribing to a subset of services through the computer system. The services can incorporate a subset of collectors and partner companies. FIG. 6 shows a diagram of an example system structure that can allow a user to subscribe to a specific service or set of services through the computer system. A user can have at least one space 601 or space system 605 comprising at least one collector 602. The collector 602 can be a single collector or a collector system. The space 601 can be a space or a space system. A computer system 603 can collect, store, manage, analyze, and transmit data from one or more collectors 602 in communication with the computer system 603. A user can provide the computer system with an item of value, for example a subscription in exchange for goods and services provided by one or more service providers 604 in response to data or alerts provided by the computer system 603. A pricing scheme can exist such that a user can opt-in to some services and opt-out of others for a rate reduction. The services can be grouped into subsets 606 such that a user can subscribe to a specific subset of the services. The subsets can be focused on a specific type of monitoring service, for example, security monitoring, health monitoring, and resource monitoring. Security monitoring can include data collection and analysis of safety hazards such as fires and burglary. Health monitoring can include air quality monitoring, humidity monitoring, and temperature monitoring. Resource monitoring can include metering of gas, electric, trash, and water services. A user can choose to subscribe to one or more service subsets.

Data from a plurality of collectors in a plurality of spaces can be collected by a communication interface in contact with the collectors and aggregated by the computer system to generate data for a space system. The collectors can be data collection devices that are configured to collect different types of data to describe a state of a space or environment. A state can be the temperature, humidity, pressure, level of volatile organic compounds, level of one or more gases, level of one or more particulates, level of radiation, power usage, water usage, internet usage, and presence or absence of smoke.

The computer system can have a processor that is in communication with the communication interface. The processor can be programmed to collect data from a plurality of collection devices, collectors, and facilitate the transmission of the data or a derivative of the data to one or more service providers. The processor can be programmed to transform the data prior to facilitating the transmission of the data to a service provider. The processor can be further programmed to collect an item of value from a user, service provider, or partner in exchange for facilitating the transmission of the data or derivative of the data to the service provider.

The space system can comprise a plurality of users. The plurality of users may or may not be users residing in a single building. In an example, the space system can comprise a plurality of buildings comprising a plurality of unrelated users. For example, the space system can be a group of office buildings, apartment buildings, homes in a housing development or community, or a group of buildings on a campus. The computer system can have a communication interface in communication with data collection devices, collectors, installed in one or more spaces in the space system. The collectors can collect data with respect to an environment in the space or space system of a plurality of users. The computer system can further include a communication interface accessible to one or more service providers. The one or more service providers can provide at least one of the users included in the plurality of users with a service, good, or benefit (e.g. warranty, discount, and/or rebate) in response to the data collected from the plurality of collectors.

The service providers can be, for example, retailers, utility companies, emergency services, non-emergency services, insurance companies, and/or a property management company. The computer system can communicate with a plurality of different service providers through the communication interface.

In an example, a service provider can be a utility company. The utility company can provide services to a plurality of homes, apartments, or buildings in a confined geographic region. A computer system can communicate with one or more collectors in a space system including the spaces receiving a utility from the utility company. Data regarding utility usage of each individual user can be collected from a meter in communication with the computer system through the communication interface. The utility metering data or a derivative thereof can be transferred to the utility company through the computer system communication interface. The utility company can then offer the user an individualized utility service or payment structure specific to the user's usage habits.

Methods

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides methods for facilitating the collection of data. FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a method for collecting data. The method can be implemented with the aid of a computer system that is programmed or otherwise configured for facilitating the collection of data (see, e.g., FIG. 7 and the accompanying text). The method can be implemented in the order shown or in any other possible order. The method can include all the components shown in FIG. 8 or any subset of the components.

In a first operation 801, a communication interface can collect data from one or more data collection devices. The collected data can be with respect to a state of an environment of a user. The state can be selected from temperature, humidity, pressure, level of volatile organic compounds, level of one or more gases, level of one or more particulates, power usage, gas usage, water usage, Internet usage, and presence or absence of smoke. The environment can be at least one building, a space adjacent to at least one building, an enclosure in a building, or a room. In some cases, the room can be in a building. The data collection devices can be associated with a manufacture that has manufactured the data collection device.

Next, in a second operation 802, data or a derivative of the data can be transmitted to one or more service providers. The data or derivative of the data can be transmitted to the one or more service providers directly or through one or more intermediaries. The data or derivative of the data can be transmitted to one or more service providers through one or more third parties. The third party can be a partner of the one or more service providers.

Next, in a third operation 803, a computer processor in communication with the communication interface calculates an item of value in exchange for facilitating the transmission of the data or a derivative of the data. In a fourth operation 804, at least a portion of the item of value can be transmitted to the manufacturer, a user, a service provider, or partner of the service provider 804.

In some cases the method can include collecting at least a portion of the item of value from the user, service provider, or partner.

The communication interface can be in communication with a plurality of data collection devices that collect different data with respect to the state of the environment. The communication interface can be in communication with a plurality of data collection devices that collect data with respect to a state of a respective environment of a user among a plurality of users.

The method can further comprise transforming the data prior to facilitating transmission of the data or a derivative of the data to one or more service providers. The method can further comprise receiving from a user a request to have the data collected from one or more data collection devices.

Control Systems

The present disclosure provides computer control systems that are programmed to implement methods of the disclosure. FIG. 7 shows a computer system 701 that is programmed or otherwise configured to implement a method for facilitating the collection of data. The computer system 701 can regulate various aspects of communication between components and transformation of goods, services, and information between components of the present disclosure, such as, for example, using a communication interface, collecting data from one or more collectors corresponding to the state of a space, space, system or an environment. The collector devices can be associated with a manufacturer that has manufactured or licensed the collector. The computer system 701 can further regulate or facilitate transmission of the data or a derivative of the data to one or more service providers and calculate and item of value in exchange for facilitating the transmission of the data or derivative of the data. The computer system 701 can additionally facilitate transmission of at least a portion of the item of value to the manufacturer, the user, the service provider or a partner of the service provider.

The computer system 701 includes a central processing unit (CPU, also “processor” and “computer processor” herein) 705, which can be a single core or multi core processor, or a plurality of processors for parallel processing. The computer system 701 also includes memory or memory location 710 (e.g., random-access memory, read-only memory, flash memory), electronic storage unit 715 (e.g., hard disk), communication interface 720 (e.g., network adapter) for communicating with one or more other systems, and peripheral devices 725, such as cache, other memory, data storage and/or electronic display adapters. The memory 710, storage unit 715, interface 720 and peripheral devices 725 are in communication with the CPU 705 through a communication bus (solid lines), such as a motherboard. The storage unit 715 can be a data storage unit (or data repository) for storing data. The computer system 701 can be operatively coupled to a computer network (“network”) 730 with the aid of the communication interface 720. The network 730 can be the Internet, an internet and/or extranet, or an intranet and/or extranet that is in communication with the Internet. The network 730 in some cases is a telecommunication and/or data network. The network 730 can include one or more computer servers, which can enable distributed computing, such as cloud computing. The network 730, in some cases with the aid of the computer system 701, can implement a peer-to-peer network, which may enable devices coupled to the computer system 701 to behave as a client or a server.

The CPU 705 can execute a sequence of machine-readable instructions, which can be embodied in a program or software. The instructions may be stored in a memory location, such as the memory 710. Examples of operations performed by the CPU 705 can include fetch, decode, execute, and writeback.

The CPU 705 can be part of a circuit, such as an integrated circuit. One or more other components of the system 701 can be included in the circuit. In some cases, the circuit is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

The storage unit 715 can store files, such as drivers, libraries and saved programs. The storage unit 715 can store user data, e.g., user preferences and user programs. The computer system 701 in some cases can include one or more additional data storage units that are external to the computer system 701, such as located on a remote server that is in communication with the computer system 701 through an intranet or the Internet.

The computer system 701 can communicate with one or more remote computer systems through the network 730. For instance, the computer system 701 can communicate with a remote computer system of a user (e.g., operator). Examples of remote computer systems include personal computers (e.g., portable PC), slate or tablet PC's (e.g., Apple® iPad, Samsung® Galaxy Tab), telephones, Smart phones (e.g., Apple® iPhone, Android-enabled device, Blackberry®), or personal digital assistants. The user can access the computer system 1001 via the network 1030.

Methods as described herein can be implemented by way of machine (e.g., computer processor) executable code stored on an electronic storage location of the computer system 701, such as, for example, on the memory 710 or electronic storage unit 715. The machine executable or machine readable code can be provided in the form of software. During use, the code can be executed by the processor 705. In some cases, the code can be retrieved from the storage unit 715 and stored on the memory 710 for ready access by the processor 705. In some situations, the electronic storage unit 715 can be precluded, and machine-executable instructions are stored on memory 710.

The code can be pre-compiled and configured for use with a machine have a processer adapted to execute the code, or can be compiled during runtime. The code can be supplied in a programming language that can be selected to enable the code to execute in a pre-compiled or as-compiled fashion.

Aspects of the systems and methods provided herein, such as the computer system 701, can be embodied in programming. Various aspects of the technology may be thought of as “products” or “articles of manufacture” typically in the form of machine (or processor) executable code and/or associated data that is carried on or embodied in a type of machine readable medium. Machine-executable code can be stored on an electronic storage unit, such memory (e.g., read-only memory, random-access memory, flash memory) or a hard disk. “Storage” type media can include any or all of the tangible memory of the computers, processors or the like, or associated modules thereof, such as various semiconductor memories, tape drives, disk drives and the like, which may provide non-transitory storage at any time for the software programming. All or portions of the software may at times be communicated through the Internet or various other telecommunication networks. Such communications, for example, may enable loading of the software from one computer or processor into another, for example, from a management server or host computer into the computer platform of an application server. Thus, another type of media that may bear the software elements includes optical, electrical and electromagnetic waves, such as used across physical interfaces between local devices, through wired and optical landline networks and over various air-links. The physical elements that carry such waves, such as wired or wireless links, optical links or the like, also may be considered as media bearing the software. As used herein, unless restricted to non-transitory, tangible “storage” media, terms such as computer or machine “readable medium” refer to any medium that participates in providing instructions to a processor for execution.

Hence, a machine readable medium, such as computer-executable code, may take many forms, including but not limited to, a tangible storage medium, a carrier wave medium or physical transmission medium. Non-volatile storage media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as any of the storage devices in any computer(s) or the like, such as may be used to implement the databases, etc. shown in the drawings. Volatile storage media include dynamic memory, such as main memory of such a computer platform. Tangible transmission media include coaxial cables; copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a bus within a computer system. Carrier-wave transmission media may take the form of electric or electromagnetic signals, or acoustic or light waves such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media therefore include for example: a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD or DVD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards paper tape, any other physical storage medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a ROM, a PROM and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave transporting data or instructions, cables or links transporting such a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer may read programming code and/or data. Many of these forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to a processor for execution.

The computer system 701 can include or be in communication with an electronic display that comprises a user interface (UI) for providing setting control, data analysis, and payment information to a user, partner, and/or service provider. In an example a manager of a system component can access the user interface to manage a subscription or to provide a credit card or bank account number for a transmission of an item of value. A user can control privacy and information sharing through the user interface to manage which collector data can be transmitted to a partner or service provider. A partner or a service can similarly manage payment details and information sharing preferences through the user interface. Examples of UI's include, without limitation, a graphical user interface (GUI) and web-based user interface.

Methods and systems of the present disclosure can be implemented by way of one or more algorithms. An algorithm can be implemented by way of software upon execution by one or more computer processors. An algorithm for enhancing security using motion detection data can capture dates, times and locations of motion detection events, and the events can be logged, and current events can be compared against a distribution compiled from historical events stored in a database such that values above a threshold, (for example, events 3 standard deviations above the mean on a normal distribution) can be flagged and a security team can be alerted when such events occur. The threshold limit can be set by a user or the threshold limit can be an inherent system property that cannot be controlled by a user. In some cases, the threshold limit can be uniform for all sensor readings. In other cases, the threshold limit can be variable for different sensors.

An algorithm for improving insurance charge estimation can utilize humidity data alongside temperature and location data, and in addition to logging the data, the temperature and humidity data can be compared against a distribution compiled from historical events stored in a database, such that values above a threshold (some threshold to determine an anomaly) in the distribution (e.g. 2 standard deviations above the mean) can be used to determine events that may be indicative of a roof leak, a pipe leak, or a flood or other event with a high humidity.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. It is not intended that the invention be limited by the specific examples provided within the specification. While the invention has been described with reference to the aforementioned specification, the descriptions and illustrations of the embodiments herein are not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Furthermore, it shall be understood that all aspects of the invention are not limited to the specific depictions, configurations or relative proportions set forth herein which depend upon a variety of conditions and variables. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the invention shall also cover any such alternatives, modifications, variations or equivalents. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer system for facilitating the collection of data with respect to a state of an environment of a user, comprising: a communication interface that is in communication with (i) one or more data collection devices that each collects data with respect to a state of an environment of a user, and (ii) one or more service providers that each provides said user with a service or benefit in response to data collected by at least a subset of said one or more data collection devices, wherein a given data collection device of said one or more data collection devices is associated with a manufacturer that has manufactured said given data collection device; and a computer processor that is communication with said communication interface and programmed to (i) collect said data from said one or more data collection devices, (ii) facilitate the transmission of said data or derivative thereof to said one or more service providers, (iii) calculating an item of value in exchange for facilitating the transmission of said data or derivative thereof, and (iv) facilitate the transmission of at least a portion of said item of value to said manufacturer, said user, said service provider or a partner of said service provider.
 2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said communication interface is in communication with a plurality of data collection devices that collect different data with respect to said state.
 3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said communication interface is in communication with a plurality of data collection devices that collect data with respect to a state of a respective environment of a given user among a plurality of users.
 4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said communication interface is in communication with a plurality of service providers.
 5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said state is selected from the group consisting of temperature, humidity, pressure, level of volatile organic compounds, level of one or more gases, level of one or more particulates, power usage, gas usage, water usage, Internet usage, and presence or absence of smoke.
 6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said environment is at least one building.
 7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said environment is adjacent to at least one building.
 8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said environment is an enclosure in a building.
 9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein said enclosure is a room.
 10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said computer processor is programmed to transform said data prior to facilitating the transmission of said data or derivative thereof to said one or more service providers.
 11. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said item of value is money.
 12. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said item of value is a service value token.
 13. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said item of value is the promise for future service.
 14. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said computer processor is programmed to collect at least a portion of said item of value from said user, said service provider or said partner.
 15. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said computer processor is programmed to collect at least a portion of said item of value from said user.
 16. A computer system for facilitating the collection of data with respect to a state of an environment of each of a plurality of users, comprising: a communication interface that is in communication with (i) a plurality of data collection devices that collect data with respect to a state of an environment of each of a plurality of users, and (ii) one or more service providers that each provides a given user among said plurality of users with a service or benefit in response to said data collected by said plurality of data collection devices; and a computer processor that is in communication with said communication interface and programmed to (i) collect said data from said plurality of data collection devices and (ii) facilitate the transmission of said data or derivative thereof to said one or more service providers.
 17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said plurality of service providers are different service providers.
 18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said communication interface is in communication with a plurality of data collection devices that collect different data with respect to said state.
 19. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said communication interface is in communication with a plurality of data collection devices that collect data with respect to a state of a respective environment of a given user among a plurality of users.
 20. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said state is selected from the group consisting of temperature, humidity, pressure, level of volatile organic compounds, level of one or more gases, level of one or more particulates, power usage, gas usage, water usage, Internet usage, and presence or absence of smoke.
 21. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said environment is at least one building.
 22. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said environment is adjacent to at least one building.
 23. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said environment is an enclosure in a building.
 24. The computer system of claim 23, wherein said enclosure is a room.
 25. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said computer processor is programmed to transform said data prior to facilitating the transmission of said data to said service provider.
 26. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said computer processor is programmed to collect an item of value from said user, said service provider or a partner of said service provider in exchange for facilitating the transmission of said data or derivative thereof to said service provider.
 27. The computer system of claim 26, wherein said item of value is money.
 28. The computer system of claim 26, wherein said item of value is a service value token.
 29. The computer system of claim 26, wherein said item of value is the promise for future service.
 30. A method for facilitating the collection of data, comprising: (a) using a communication interface, collecting data from one or more data collection devices with respect to a state of an environment of a user, wherein a given data collection device of said one or more data collection devices is associated with a manufacturer that has manufactured said given data collection device; (b) facilitating the transmission of said data or derivative thereof to one or more service providers; (c) using a computer processor that is in communication with said communication interface, calculating an item of value in exchange for facilitating the transmission of said data or derivative thereof; and (d) facilitating the transmission of at least a portion of said item of value to said manufacturer, said user, said service provider or a partner of said service provider.
 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising collecting at least a portion of said item of value from said user, said service provider or said partner.
 32. The method of claim 30, wherein (b) further comprises transmitting said data or derivative thereof directly to said one or more service providers.
 33. The method of claim 30, wherein said data or derivative thereof is transmitted to said one or more service providers through one or more third parties.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein at least a subset of said one or more third partiers is a partner of said one or more service providers.
 35. The method of claim 30, wherein said communication interface is in communication with a plurality of data collection devices that collect different data with respect to said state.
 36. The method of claim 30, wherein said communication interface is in communication with a plurality of data collection devices that collect data with respect to a state of a respective environment of a given user among a plurality of users.
 37. The method of claim 30, wherein said state is selected from the group consisting of temperature, humidity, pressure, level of volatile organic compounds, level of one or more gases, level of one or more particulates, power usage, gas usage, water usage, Internet usage, and presence or absence of smoke.
 38. The method of claim 30, wherein said environment is at least one building.
 39. The method of claim 30, wherein said environment is adjacent to at least one building.
 40. The method of claim 30, wherein said environment is an enclosure in a building.
 41. The method of claim 40, wherein said enclosure is a room.
 42. The method of claim 30, further comprising transforming said data prior to facilitating the transmission of said data or derivative thereof to one or more service providers.
 43. The method of claim 30, further comprising receiving from said user a request to have said data collected from said one or more data collection devices.
 44. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising machine-executable code that, upon execution by one or more computer processors implements a method for facilitating the collection of data, the method comprising: (a) using a communication interface, collecting data from one or more data collection devices with respect to a state of an environment of a user, wherein a given data collection device of said one or more data collection devices is associated with a manufacturer that has manufactured said given data collection device; (b) facilitating the transmission of said data or derivative thereof to one or more service providers; (c) calculating an item of value in exchange for facilitating the transmission of said data or derivative thereof; and (d) facilitating the transmission of at least a portion of said item of value to said manufacturer, said user, said service provider or a partner of said service provider. 